Adjustable water supply controlling valve assembly



Jan. 5, 1937. F. H. AHLMAN 2,067,112 ADJUSTABLE WATER SUPPLY CONTROLLINGVALVE ASSEMBLY Filed June 10, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 5, 1937. FQ H,AHLMAN 2,067,112

ADJUSTABLE WATER SUPPLY CONTROLLING VALVE ASSEMBLY Filed Jung-l0, 1935 2Sheets-Sheet 2 All/l Patented Jan. 5, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEFranz H. Ahlman, Morristown, Minn.

Application June 10,

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an adjustable water supply controlling valveassembly designed primarily for use in connection with livestockwatering bowls, but it is to be understood that a valve assembly, inaccordance with this invention may be employed in any connection forwhich itmay be found applicable.

The essential object of the invention is to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth,

101 a vertically disposed valve assembly which includes means to permitit to be selectively connected to an under or overhead water feed; whichis of a structure possessing a self-draining characteristic to preventit from freezing up and overcome the possibility of its bursting;

which includes a water cut-off valve at its upper end and an underslungnoseplate at its lower end whereby when in service the water doesnotreach the valve housing and when the latter is closed no water will bestanding in the valve housing; which includes a holder means so formedas toenable the valve housing to be positioned-at one side of and withthe noseplate directed towards the center of the bowl; which is of aform for use on any type of equipment, whether a stall is of a single,double or triple post type, as the bowl may be attached to one 'post ona double post stall and swung midway between the two and the assemblyset 3 exactly. midway. with the noseplate turned to the proper angle toequalize the bowl for two animals; which includes a nose-plate havingmeans for opening the cut-off valve without friction and without bindingof the valve stem;

35 and which includes means whereby the water feed pipe leading to theassembly may clear a partition between two animals while the bowl isunder dead center.

Further objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a valve assembly for the purpose referred towhich is simple in its construction, strong, durable, compact, readilyassembled, thoroughly eiiicient in its use and inexpensive tomanufacture.

Withthe foregoing objects in view, the invention consists of the novelconstruction, combination andarrangem'ent of parts as will behereinafter more specifically described and as are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings wherein areshown embodiments of the invention, butit is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may beresorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In: the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan viewofa livestock 1935, Serial No. 25,906

watering bowl showing the adaptation therewith of the valve assembly.

Figure 2 is a sideelevation of the watering bowl showing the adaptationtherewith of the valve assembly,

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view on line 33, Figure 1, of the valveassembly as installed with respect to the watering bowl,

Figure 4 is a side elevation, of a modified form of assembly as appliedto a water pail for filling the latter,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of still another formand illustrating the adaptation thereof .with respect to a water supplyand a pair of water barrels, and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the form of clamping sections usedwhich provide elements of the suspension which forms a part of theassembly.

With reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3, a livestock watering bowldesignated l is adapted to have suspended therein a valve assembly 8 inaccordance with this invention.

The bowl 1 has its bottom 9 formed with a tapered drain opening it!closed by a removable plug II. The bowl 7 is clamped, as at [2, inlateral relation to an upstanding post 53. In Figure 2 the assembly 8 isshown as being clamped, as at l4, in lateral relation to post l3.

The assembly 8 includes an upstanding tubub lar housing I4 open at itsupper and lower ends l5, l6 respectively. The housing Hi, between itstransverse median and upper end 15, is formed with an internal annularshoulder I'l provided at the junction of the portions l8, IQ ofdifferent inner diameters of the housing. The upper end it of thehousing is beveled to provide a valve seat 20. The housing I l,centrally of the front of its lower end portion, is provided with anoutwardly directed flared part 2i which, in lengthwise section, has itsupper face of compound curvature to provide a seat 22. The lower face ofpart 2! is arranged above the lower end edge of the housing. Thelatter,at each side of part 2!, is provided with a pair of outwardly extendingupwardly and rearwardly directed. spaced parallel retainers '22 ofhook-like form which project beyond and extend above and depend belowthe part 25. The lower portions of the retainers 22 coact to provide apassage 23 which opens into the housing i l at its lower end I6. Theretainers 22 are integral with the part 2i and housing 14. The part 2!forms a fulcrum point for a purpose to be referred to.

The housing M-is formed of two parts 23, M

of different outer diameters. The junction of the two parts 23, 24 formshousing M with an annular peripheral shoulder 25. The part 24 of housingM is of greater outer diameter and is formed with a peripheral shoulder26 in proximity to shoulder 25. The part 23 is peripherally threadedfrom end to end.

Threadedly engaging with the part 23 of housing i4 is a leg of athree-way coupling 2?. The legs of the latter are indicated at 28, 29and 35. The leg 28 is connected to part 23. The legs '29 and 30 areprovided for selectively connecting to coupling 27 a water supply line.The leg 29 or 30 not selected for connection to the water supply line isto be closed by a removable plug. The leg 25 is for the purpose ofconnecting an overhead water feed to the housing. The leg 35 is for thepurpose of connecting an under water feed to the housing. The drawingsshow, by way of example, the connecting to the leg 29 an overhead waterfeed line 3! and the leg 30 closed by a removable plug 32. The legs 28,29 and 30 are interiorly threaded.

Arranged within and axially of the housing It is a vertically disposedvalve stem 33 formed of two parts 34, 555 of different diameters and ashoulder 35 at the junction of said parts. The part 3 3 is of smallestdiameter and of less length than part 35. The latter is formed withsuperposed sets Bl, 38 and 35 of radially disposed lugs. The part 35 hasits upper portion permanently arranged in the portion [8 of smallestinner diameter of the housing and its lower end permanently spaced abovethe lower end l6 of the housing. The set of lugs 31 is positioned inproximity to the upper end of part 35. The set of lugs 35 is positionedbelow and in proximity to the set 3?. The set of lugs 39 is arranged inproximity to the lower end of part 35. The lugs 31, 35 extend to andslide against the portion l8 of the housing and act to maintain the stem33 axially of the housing. The part 34 of stem 33 permanently extendsabove the upper end !5 of the housing. Encompassing part 34 and seatedon shoulder 36 is a flared water cutoff or feed controlling valve 40 ofsuitable resilient material, such as rubber. Mounted on the upper end ofvalve 40 is a metallic cap 4|. The part 34- extends above the cap 4! andcarries a securing nut 42 which coacts with the cap 4! and shoulder 35for clamping the valve to stem 33. Surrounding the latter and interposedbetween shoulder IT and lugs 39 is a coiled controlling spring 43functioning to normally maintain valve 45 against seat 20. The valve 40prevents stem 33 from extending through the lower end 16 of the housingand it further acts to always maintain the lower end of the stem 33spaced above the flared portion 2! of the housing.

The assembly 5 further includes a horizontally disposed skeletonnose-plate 44 having integral therewith, centrally of the rear marginalportion 45 of its upper face, an upstanding combined pivotal platesuspension and valve opening element 46. The latter consists of avertically disposed tapered stem 41 integral at its lower end with plate44. The stem 41, at its upper end, merges into a pair of upstandingoppositely disposed arms 48, 49. The arm 48 is curved to extendforwardly and rearwardly and is of substantially semi-oval contour. Thearm 45 is curved to extend rearwardly and upwardly and is of greaterlength than arm 48. The arm 49 is struck upon a materially greater arethan arm 48. The arms 48, 49 are arranged between the retainers 22 Thearm 48 extends between the upper portion of the retainers 22 andencompasses the part 2|. The upper end of arm 48 merges into a holder 55mounted in seat 22 and' bearing against the rear edges of the upper endsof the retainers 22 and whereby the element 46 is detaohably connectedto and is suspended from the front of the lower end of housing 14. Thearm 48, in connection with the holder 59, constitutes a fulcrum forelement 45. The lower ends of the arms 48, 49 merge into each other. Thelower portions of arms 48, 49 are arranged in the passage 23. The arm 49is so shaped and of such length that its upper end 49" will abut thelower end of stem 33, whereby when the plate 44 is lowered by the noseof the animal the element 45 will move in a direction to cause the arm49 to travel upwardly carrying the valve stem 33 therewith and openingvalve 40 to cause a water feed or supply against the action ofcontrolling spring 43. When the nose of the animal clears the plate 44,the action of spring 43 will close valve 40.

The assembly 8 further includes a horizontally and vertically adjustablesuspension 5! for the housing M. The suspension may be adjusted toposition the housing 14 on the horizontal median of the bowl or adjacentto either side of said median. When the housing is positioned adjacentto either side of said median, the suspension 5! will also permit of thehousing being turned on its vertical axis to an extent and in adirection whereby the plate 44 will be directed towards and across theaxis of the bowl. After the housing has been arranged in the positionaforesaid, the suspension 5i can then be adjusted to clamp the housingin its adjusted position and suspend it in the bowl. The suspension 5|includes means for clamping it to post l3 and such means permits of thevertical, as well as horizontal angular adjusting of the suspension inrelation to post I3. The suspension 5| also includes means to permit ofthe revolving of the housing relative thereto when the housing isconnected thereto and when the suspension is fixed to post l3.

The suspension 5! is formed of a pair of Oppositely disposedangle-shaped sections 52, 52 of like form and each includes a rear armand a forward arm 53, 53 respectively. The arm 53, at its inner end,merges into the rear end of the arm 53*. The arms 53, 53 are disposed atright angles to each other. The arm 53 is of greater width and of lesslength than that of arm 53 and is formed with a straight bifurcatedouter portion 53 and a curved inner portion 53 which is offset forwardlywith respect to the portion 53 The latter has its furcation extendinglengthwise thereof and open at its outer side. The furcation isdesignated 54. The portions 53 of the arms 53, when the suspension 54 isanchored to the post l3, coact to form a groove 54 to receive the post3. The suspension 5| includes an anchoring means therefor associatedwith the portions 53 of the arms 53. The said anchoring means includes ayoke 55 having its sides 55 threaded and carrying adjustable clampingnuts 57. When the suspension 5! is anchored to post !3, the latterextends through groove 54*, the base of yoke 55 bears against post I3,the sides 55 extend through furcations 54 and the nuts 5'! are adjustedto bind against the front face of the arms 53 whereby the suspension 5|is fixedly clamped to post l3 and with the forward inner corners of arms53 in abutting relation.

The arm 53 of each of the sections 52, 52 is tapered and includes aninner portion 58 formed with a flat inner face 59, a recess 59 in itsouter face, an opening 66, an annular boss 66 surrounding the-outer endof opening 66 and arranged in recess 59* and an opening 60 arrangedforwardly of recess 66 and at the outer end of portion 58.

The arm 53 of each of the sections 52, 52 also includes a curved outerportion 6I'which is offset with respect to portion 58 and has areinforcing rib 62, on its outer face.

The openings 66 of the portions 58 of the arms 53 align with each other.The openings 66 of the portions 58 align with each other. Extendingthrough aligning openings 66 and the aligning openings 66 are headedbolts 64, 65 respectively carrying clamping nuts 66 to bind against thearm 53 of section 52. The heads of bolts 64, 65 abut the arm 53 ofsection 52.

The portions 6| of the arms 5t are adapted.

to encompass the housing l4 and bear against shoulder 26. The portions6| of the arms 53 constitute clamps for housing M. The bolt 65 and thenuts 66 carried thereby coact with the yoke 55 and nuts 51 on the yokefor anchoring the sections 52, 52 in abutting relation and to the postl3. The bolts 64 and the nuts carried thereby coact with the portions 6|of the arms 53 for clamping the housing [4 in the desired position. Whenthe nuts 66 on the bolt 64 are loosened the housing I4 may behorizontally adjusted to extend plate 44 towards the axis of the bowlwithout disconnecting housing [4 from sections 52, 52 and withoutdisconnecting the suspension 5! from post l3. After the housing M hasbeen horizontally adjusted to the desired position, the nuts 66 on thebolt 64 are screwed home whereby housing I4 will be clamped in itsadjusted position. On loosening the nuts 66 on bolt 65 and the nuts 51on yoke 55 the housing l4, when connected to sections 52, 52 and thesections 52, 52 may be bodily vertically adjusted relative to post l3.

Referring to Figure 4, the valve assembly 61 shown thereby is of thesame construction as that of assembly 8, with the exception that for thenose-plate 44 there is substituted a lever arm 68 formed with a notch68' for mounting on arm 68 the bail 69 of a water bucket 16 forsuspension from arm 68 to be filled with water passing through thehousing of assembly 61 when the latter is open. The element 68 ofassembly 61 is shifted to open the latter when the bucket is suspendedfrom arm 68.

Referring to- Figure 5, a water feed control is illustrated whichincludes a pair of valve assemblies 1|, 12 of the same construction asthe assembly 8 with the exception that the nose plate is dispensed with.In lieu of the employment of the nose plate 44 in assembly H, a leverarm 13 is used which has suspended therefrom a float 14. In lieu of theemployment of the nose plate 44 in assembly 12, a lever arm 15 is used.The arm 15 carries a weight 15 and an upright 16 which is connected atits upper portion to a float 11. Otherwise than that as stated, theassemblies ll, 12 will be of the same form as assembly 8. In Figure 5 awater source is indicated at T8 to which is connected, as at 19, theassembly II and the latter is arranged relative to a water container 80.The assembly 12 is arranged relative to a water container 8| and isconnected, as at 82, to container 86.

The float 74 is in the form of a jug and also functions as a weight, orin other words, element (4 acts as a weight and float combined when thevalve is placed well above the container to be kept just so full. Butwhen the valve is used under water, such as shown with respect tocontainer 8|, it requires both a weight I5 and a float 11 to operate theassembly. The weight I! which is heavy enough to open the valve is tiedto lever arm 15 and the float I1 is tied to arm 15 to raise this weightand so close the valve when the water has reached a certain level. Thislevel is determined by the length of upright 16 which is in the form ofa string or wire. A stiff rod would not Work without a weight tieddirect to lever 15 because it would not push down but would fallsidewise unless braced.

What I claim is:

1. In a water supply controlling valve assembly, a vertically disposedtubular housing open at its upper and lower ends and being formed at itslower portion with an outwardly directed flared part having integralwith the sides of the latter retainers extending above and below saidpart, said retainers, in connection with said part, forming a passageopening into the lower end of the housing, means for connecting a waterfeed line to the upper end of the housing, a valve normally seating uponand closing the upper end of the housing, said valve being arranged insaid means and provided with a spring controlled stem depending in thehousing axially of the latter and having its lower end permanentlypositioned above the lower end of the housing, and a pressure appliedelement fulcruming on said part and shiftably connected to the housingby said retainers, said element including a part extending through saidpassage into the housing to oppose the lower end of the valve stem toprovide, on the application of pressure tosaid element, for the upwardmovement of the valve stem to open the valve against the action of thecontrolling spring for said stem.

2. In a water supply controlling valve assembly, a vertically disposedtubular housing open at its upper and lower ends and formed at its lowerportion with an outwardly directed flared part having integral with thesides of the latter retainers extending above and below said part, saidretainers together with said part forming a passage opening into thelower end of the housing, means for connecting a water supply line tothe upper end of the housing, an upwardly opening valve normally closingthe upper end of the housing and provided with a tensioned stemdepending in the housing and having its lower end permanently positionedabove the lower end of the housing, and a pressure applied elementfulcrumed on said part and shiftably connected to the housing by saidretainers, said element including a part extending through said passageinto the housing to oppose the lower end of the valve stem to provide,on application of pressure to said element, for the upward movement ofsaid stem and valve to open the latter.

- FRANZ H. AHLMAN.

